Isabela: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office in Cagayan Valley (FO-2), has provided Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance to 34,590 corn farmers affected by the dry spell in the eight municipalities of Isabela Province.

According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD ECT program has been implemented in the municipalities of Angadanan, Burgos, Cordon, Quezon, Reina Mercedes, Roxas, San Guillermo, and San Manuel. This initiative aims to help farmers cope with the prolonged drought, which has caused significant crop damage and affected their livelihoods. As of Wednesday, the DSWD FO2 has released PHP350.22 million to support the farmers in the region.

The ECT payout activities are ongoing to ensure that no farmer affected by the dry spell will be left unaided. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD's Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) emphasized the priority of providing immediate financial relief to farmers so they can procure necessary agricultural inputs and resume their farming activities despite the challenges brought by the dry spell.

'We understand that losing almost an entire harvest is devastating for our agricultural sector, which is why we are fast-tracking these cash transfers to help them,' Dumlao said in a news release. The assistance is part of the department's broader disaster response and recovery initiatives in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The DSWD FO2 is preparing to reach farmers in Cagayan Province next week, targeting to provide assistance to around 31,782 beneficiaries, with a total allocation of PHP321.79 million. Highlighting the importance of this timely intervention, the DSWD remains committed to ensuring that no affected farmer is left behind as they recover from the effects of extreme drought.